Europe’s response to the crisis in CAR has been half-hearted and the humanitarian consequences dire.
The year 2014 marked a turning point in Afghanistan’s history as national elections created a new opportunity for the country and NATO concluded its combat operations. Europe’s influence in Afghanistan has long been marginal, with the US firmly in the lead both militarily and politically. Nonetheless, Afghanistan’s transition also marks a turning point for many European armies, which bear serious scars from campaigning there.
The legacy of their efforts appeared at risk in summer 2014, when elections led to a prolonged stand-off between two candidates: Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. Ghani eventually gained the presidency in September in a power-sharing deal with Abdullah and quickly improved relations with Western powers, which had suffered under his predecessor, Hamid Karzai. But there was an increase in violence in 2014 and concerns remain about the government’s ability to fight the Taliban.
NATO has launched a new training mission, meant to involve up to 12,000 personnel, but at present, the US is the major contributor. Germany has pledged 850 troops to the mission and Italy and Spain have also made significant pledges, but the overall level of enthusiasm among Europeans is low. The US has had to keep more troops than planned on the ground to fill the gap.
The EU also maintains a CSDP police-training mission in Afghanistan, and has committed to extending this until the end of 2016. Its priorities are primarily institutional, including strengthening the ministry of the interior and promoting professionalism among the police. It will pass off some of its duties to other EU agencies at the end of 2015. The UN, meanwhile, will maintain a political presence in the country.
MULTILATERAL ISSUES & CRISIS MANAGEMENT /
Peacekeeping65 AFGHANISTAN
Europe’s residual role in Afghanistan is likely to be marginal.
2011 2012 2013 2014
Unity
3 4 23 Resources
3 3 32 Outcome
4 4 45
Total 10/20 11/20 9/20 10/20
C+
2011 C+ 2012 B- 2013 C+
Tables
COMPONENTS BY ISSUE Unity
(out of 5)
Resources
(out of 5) Outcome
(out of 10) Total (out of 20)
Score Grade
RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA 11.38
B-Sanctions, trade and overall relationship 16.00
A-1 Sanctions and trade with Russia 5 5 7 17
A-2 Visa policies with Russia 5 5 5 15 B+
Human rights and governance 7
C-3 Rule of law and human rights in Russia 4 2 1 7
C-4 Political freedom in Russia 4 2 1 7
C-European security issues 11
B-5 European security reassurance 5 5 5 15 B+
6 Response to Russian actions in the eastern
neighbourhood 5 4 6 15 B+
7 Relations with Russia on protracted conflicts 4 3 2 9 C+
8 Diversification of gas-supply routes to Europe 3 3 3 9 C+
Cooperation on regional and global issues 11.5
B-9 Relations with Russia on the Greater Middle East 4 3 4 11
B-10 Relations with Russia on the Arctic 4 2 6 12
B-RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES 13.14 B
Cooperation on European security issues 14.25 B+
11 Relations with the US on NATO, arms control
and Russia 3 4 8 15 B+
12 Relations with the US on counter-terrorism 4 3 7 14 B+
13 Relations with the US on intelligence
cooperation and data protection 3 4 7 14 B+
14 Relations with the US on the Balkans
and Eastern Europe 4 3 7 14 B+
Trade liberalisation and overall relationship 12.67 B
15 Reciprocity on visa procedures with the US 3 3 6 12
B-16 Relations with the US on trade and investment 3 4 7 14 B+
17 Relations with the US on economic issues 3 3 6 12
B-Cooperation on regional and global issues 12.50 B
18 Relations with the US on Syria, Northern Iraq
and the Wider Middle East 4 3 5 12
B-19 Relations with the US on Israel and Palestine 2 4 5 11
B-20 Relations with the US on Iran and weapons
proliferation 5 5 7 17
A-21 Relations with the US on Asia 3 2 5 10 C+
COMPONENTS BY ISSUE Unity
(out of 5)
Resources
(out of 5) Outcome
(out of 10) Total (out of 20)
Score Grade
RELATIONS WITH WIDER EUROPE 11.08
B-Eastern Neighbourhood 15.25 B+
22 Rule of law, democracy, and human rights
in the eastern neighbourhood 4 3 8 15 B+
23 Relations with the eastern neighbourhood
on trade 5 4 5 14 B+
24 Visa liberalisation with the eastern
neighbourhood 5 4 7 16
A-25 Relations with the eastern neighbourhood
on energy 4 4 8 16
A-Western Balkans 9.75 C+
26 Overall progress of enlargement in the
Western Balkans 2 3 6 11
B-27 Kosovo 3 3 6 12
B-28 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 3 2 8 C
29 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 3 2 2 8 C
Turkey 8.25 C
30 Bilateral relations with Turkey 3 3 4 10 C+
31 Rule of law, democracy, and human
rights in Turkey 3 2 2 7
C-32 Relations with Turkey on the Cyprus question 3 2 2 7
C-33 Relations with Turkey on regional issues 4 3 2 9 C+
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA 8.46 C
Regional Issues 6.50
C-34 Rule of law, human rights, and democracy
in the MENA region 2 3 3 8 C
35 Regional security in the MENA region 2 2 1 5 D+
North Africa 7.50 C
36 Egypt 3 2 3 8 C
37 Libya 2 2 3 7
C-38 The Maghreb 4 2 5 11
B-Levant 8.50 C
39 Syria and Iraq 2 2 2 6
C-40 Israel and Palestine 3 4 4 11
B-Gulf 11.33
B-41 Iran 4 5 7 16
A-42 Relations with Gulf Cooperation Council States 3 3 5 11
B-43 Yemen 2 2 3 7
C-COMPONENTS BY ISSUE Unity
(out of 5)
Resources
(out of 5) Outcome
(out of 10) Total (out of 20)
Score Grade
RELATIONS WITH ASIA AND CHINA 10.53
B-Overall Partnership 12
B-44 Formats of the Europe-China dialogue 2 3 6 11
B-45 Investment and market access in China 3 4 6 13 B
46 Relations with other Asian partners 4 2 6 12
B-Human Rights and Governance 8 C
47 Rule of law and human rights in China and Asia 2 3 3 8 C
Regional and Global Issues 11.6
B-48 Relations with China on Russia/Ukraine 4 2 3 9 C+
49 Relations with China on Syria, wider
Middle East and Africa 4 3 6 13 B
50 Relations with China on North Korea 5 2 6 13 B
51 Relations with China on energy and
climate change 5 3 6 14 B+
52 Relations with Asian partners on maritime
security 3 2 4 9 C+
COMPONENTS BY ISSUE Unity
(out of 5)
Resources
(out of 5) Outcome
(out of 10) Total (out of 20)
Score Grade
MULTILATERAL ISSUES AND
CRISIS MANAGEMENT 11.30
B-Key elements of the international system 13.00 B
53 European policy at the UN (includes UNSC,
GA, HRC and UN reform) 4 4 3 11
B-54 European policy in the G8, G20, IMF and WTO 4 4 4 12
B-55 European policy on non-proliferation and the
arms trade 4 5 7 16
A-International justice 11.00
B-56 European policy towards the ICC and
international criminal tribunals 4 3 4 11
B-Humanitarian relief and migration crises 9.25 C+
57 Humanitarian response to refugee crisis
in Middle East 2 3 3 8 C
58 Response to immigration crisis in Mediterranean 2 1 2 5 D+
59 International aid 2 4 6 12
B-60 Ebola 2 3 7 12
B-Climate change 13 B
61 Climate change 3 4 6 13 B
Peacekeeping 10.25 C+
62 Mali 3 3 3 9 C+
63 Somalia 4 4 8 16
A-64 The Sudans, DRC and CAR 2 2 2 6
C-65 Afghanistan 3 2 5 10 C+